ALLISON v. ALLISON

Review of the plaintiff's contention regarding the unsigned order of reference is barred by the doctrine of law of the case, as this Court has already decided this exact issue on a prior appeal ( see Allison v Allison, 28 AD3d 406, cert denied 549 US 1307). An appellate court's resolution of an issue on a prior appeal constitutes the law of the case and is binding on the Supreme Court, as well as on the appellate court ( see J-Mar Serv. Ctr., Inc. v Mahoney, Connor Hussey, 45 AD3d 809).

The plaintiff's contention that the Special Referee was biased and, therefore, should have recused himself, is without merit. In the absence of a mandatory statutory basis for disqualification, the plaintiff was required to demonstrate that the alleged bias of the Special Referee affected the result of the trial ( see K. v B., 13 AD3d 12, 20). Here, she failed to make the requisite showing.

The plaintiff's contention that the court erred in denying her requests for an upward modification of child support and an award of maintenance is without merit. The plaintiff failed to make the requisite showing that she was unable to be self-supporting or that a substantial change in circumstances had occurred since the date of the judgment of divorce ( see Domestic Relations Law § 236 [B] [9] [b]; Trainor v Trainor, 188 AD2d 461).

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.